The idea of talking with our pets has been feeding the collective imaginary. And although we continue to maintain a conversation with a dog or a cat in the style of Dr. Dolittle, artificial intelligence (AI) begins to explore a much more realistic terrain: to interpret how they feel. The last sample comes from China: Baidu has requested a patent that proposes a system capable of translating the emotional state of animals into understandable language for humans.
An emotional translator, not a talk with your dog. The application, submitted by the company to the State Office of Intellectual Property of China raises a system that does not intend to translate barking or meowed in human phrases as if they were words, but to identify relevant signs of animal behavior (such as voice, gestures or physiological changes) to estimate its emotional state and express it in natural language. In other words: it’s not about talking to animals, but better understanding what they feel.
As Sina collects, the key is to build an emotional interpretation channel that allows humans to react to what animals, obviously, cannot express in words. The difference with respect to other existing tools is in the depth of the analysis. Most initiatives in this field focus on the superficial interpretation of sounds or expressions, but do not capture complex emotions. Baidu’s proposal aspires to break that limit.
Artificial intelligence with multimodal approach. The system key is in its integral approach. According to the technical summary of the patent, the method relies on technologies such as automatic learning, deep learning and natural language processing. These three pillars allow to process large volumes of data and extract relevant patterns in real time.
Innovation is how the different signs collected are combined: vocalizations, postures, behavioral variations and physiological data. All this is analyzed jointly to avoid errors that usually occur when it is based on a single source. The ultimate goal is to achieve a more precise emotional reading, with less margin of ambiguity.
Applications in Care, Conservation and Animal Study. The potential use of this technology goes far beyond the domestic sphere. According to the document, it could be used to improve the welfare of pets, adjusting their care and company based on their mood. But it could also have an important role in scientific research, helping biologists to better understand the behavior of rare or endangered species.
In reservations and conservation centers, these types of tools could become an ally to anticipate states of stress or discomfort before they manifest themselves in an evident way, facilitating the task of the staff.
It is not yet a product. As with any patent, its publication does not imply that technology is available or becoming a commercial product. In fact, South China Morning Post points out that the evaluation process can last more than a year, and Baidu has not announced concrete plans to develop it in the form of a device or service.
For now, what the company poses is a technical basis that opens a new chapter in the relationship between humans and animals. One in which, perhaps, we can begin to understand more precisely what those who cannot talk to us with words feel.
Images | Stephen Yu | Werzk Luuuuuu
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